The Latest: UK police: 21 total treated after spy poisoning

Associated Press

March 8, 2018 1:13 pm

In this photo provided by Solent News & Photo Agency and taken on Sunday, March 4, 2018, a police officer without any protective gear crouches down next to the bench in the Maltings Shopping centre, where Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found in Salisbury, England. Skripal and his daughter are in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Salisbury. A police officer who came to their aid is in a serious condition, though he is conscious and talking. He was identified Thursday as Sgt. Nick Bailey.(Thomas Belk/Solent News & Photo Agency via AP)Associated Press

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Personnel in hazmat suits walk away after securing the covering on a bench in the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury, England on Thursday March 8, 2018, where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found critically ill by exposure to a nerve agent on Sunday. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Associated Press

Police officers seal off a cul-de-sac in Salisbury, England, near to the home of former Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal as a nerve agent is believed to have been used to critically injure him and his daughter Yulia. Britain's Home Secretary says the investigation into the nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy and his daughter is focusing on three sites - his home, a pub and a restaurant. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Associated Press

This undated handout photo provided by Wiltshire Police on Thursday, March 8, 2018 shows Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Whoever attacked Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy, with a rare nerve agent is guilty of a "brazen and reckless act," and Britain will respond without hesitation when it becomes clear who is responsible, the country's security minister said Thursday. Skripal and his daughter are in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Salisbury. A police officer who came to their aid is in a serious condition, though he is conscious and talking, Rudd said. He was identified Thursday as Sgt. Nick Bailey. (Wiltshire Police via AP)Associated Press

Police activity in Salisbury, England Wednesday March 7, 2018, around the home of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. The Russian ex-spy and his daughter are fighting for their lives in an English hospital after they were attacked Sunday with a nerve agent in a targeted murder attempt, British police said Wednesday. Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench in the southwest England city of Salisbury on Sunday. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)Associated Press

LONDON -- The Latest on the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and his daughter (all times local):

6:55 p.m.

British police now say a total of roughly 21 people have sought treatment after a nerve agent was used to attack and ex-Russian spy and his daughter.

He says only three people remain hospitalized. They are former Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and police Sgt. Nick Bailey.

Officials say Bailey is making progress. The ex-spy and his daughter remain in critical condition.

Police say the roughly 21 people treated include the three still hospitalized.

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5 p.m.

The global chemical weapons watchdog says it is in touch with authorities in Britain about the use of a rare nerve agent in an attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter.

In a brief written statement, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says that "the recent report that two people became seriously ill in the United Kingdom as a result of exposure to a nerve agent is a source of great concern."

The organization based in The Hague did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking more detail on the nature of the contacts with Britain.

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd has told the House of Commons that enormous resources are being used to determine who is responsible for poisoning Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33. The pair were found unconscious on a bench in the city of Salisbury on Sunday.

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11:45 a.m.

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd says a former Russian spy and his daughter who were poisoned with a nerve agent are in a critical but stable condition.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious in the English city of Salisbury on Sunday.

Rudd says a police officer who treated them is in serious but stable condition and is "talking and engaging." She says it's highly likely the officer was exposed to the same nerve agent.

Rudd says the attack is an "outrageous crime" and a "brazen and reckless act" but cautions it is too early to say who was behind it.

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9:10 a.m.

Britain's Home Secretary says the investigation into the nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy and his daughter is focusing on three sites - his home, a pub and a restaurant.

Amber Rudd told the BBC on Thursday that enormous resources are being directed at trying to figure out who might be responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Rudd, who is in charge of public security issues, says the police officer also injured in the incident Sunday is also in serious condition but is conscious and talking.

Rudd declined to say if she believed Russia was behind the attack, but says Britain will "if it is appropriate, attribute it to somebody. If that is the case, then we will have a plan in place."